Award applications for the 10th annual Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award now are being accepted. The 2016 National BQA Awards recognize five winners in the areas of beef, dairy, marketing and education:

– The BQA Cow Calf, BQA Feedyard and BQA Dairy awards recognize producers that best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations.

– The BQA Educator Award is open to individuals or companies that provide high quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle throughout the industry chain.

– The BQA Marketer Award is open to livestock markets, cattle buyers and supply-chain programs that promote BQA to their customers and offer them opportunities to get certified.

BQA award winners will be selected by a committee of representatives from universities, state beef councils and affiliated groups. Nominations can be submitted by any organization, group, or individual on behalf of a U.S. beef producer, marketer or educator. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, though the nominees are expected to be involved in the preparation of the application.